Infant dies at Tshedza village

A four-month-old baby boy died in a freak accident involving a taxi on Saturday near the Tshedza-Vuvha public road.

The incident occurred late in the day. According to a police statement, the mother and her baby boy boarded a taxi to travel to Vuvha location. The driver was apparently busy filling up with petrol, using a plastic container, when the brakes failed. The taxi started moving backwards, in the direction of the river.

The police statement says that a commotion ensued when passengers tried to jump from the vehicle. A passenger sitting in the front seat allegedly tried to steer the taxi to prevent it from ending up in the river. In the process, the boy fell out and got trapped underneath the vehicle.

The young boy sustained serious head injuries and died on the scene. His mother also sustained injuries, but she was treated and later discharged.